Tough opening day at Pebble|Tiger and Lefty both fail to birdie
Published 11:49 pm Friday, June 18, 2010
By By DOUG FERGUSON , AP Golf Writer
PEBBLE BEACH, California Shaun Micheel sunk several clutch putts on his way to a 2-under 69 at the U.S. Open Thursday, earning him a share of the lead alongside side Paul Casey and Brendon De Jonge.
Meanwhile, the big names misfired at Pebble Beach as the U.S. Open proved to be as tough as ever.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson didnt make a single birdie between them, the first time thats ever happened with the worlds best two players in the same tournament. Some of the strongest rounds, and sometimes the best shots, didnt hold up on a course that was unforgiving.
One thing seemed as clear as the blue sky over the Monterey Peninsula: that 12-under par by Woods a decade ago is safe. If one round was any indication, anything under par might be good enough to win this U.S. Open.
Im not thinking about what kind of score might win this golf tournament, Ian Poulter said after a hard-earned 70. Im just happy to go out there and play as good as I possibly can. But I will tell you the golf course is difficult. Theres not going to be many good scores on it today. And I cant see it getting easier.
De Jonge, a 29-year-old from Zimbabwe playing in his first U.S. Open, holed out with a wedge for eagle on the scary par-5 14th and hit it stiff on the par-3 17th for his round of 69. Casey of England got away with average iron play by taking only 23 putts.
Micheel, an American with two top finishes on the PGA tour this year, took only 22 putts, the last one from 20 feet for birdie on the 18th hole.
Only nine players were under par, compared with 17 rounds under par after the first round at Pebble in 2000.
The biggest difference was Woods.
He hit every green in opening with eight parsextending his streak to 34 holes without a bogey in a U.S. Open at Pebble Beachbut never gave himself many good looks at birdie. His day ended badly, with a three-putt bogey from the fringe on the 16th, missing an 8-foot birdie on the 17th and laying up in a bunker to take bogey on the 18th for a 3-over 74.
I hit the ball well enough to shoot a good score, Woods said. These greens are just awful. Theyre moving every which way.
Woods never had that problem 10 years ago, making everything inside 8 feet. He is a different player now, playing this U.S. Open under far different circumstances with the turmoil in his personal life. And this golf course has rarely looked so tough in relatively calm conditions.
Mickelson, already with a record five runner-up finishes in this major, hit two balls in the ocean, took two shots to get out of one bunker and missed a half-dozen birdie putts inside 12 feet in his birdie-free round of 75.
It was his highest opening round in the U.S. Open since 1997, though he was not entirely discouraged.
Theres no way under par is going to win here, I dont believe, Mickelson said. I think over par will win. Because of that, Im right there. But I need to play well. I need to putt well, score well. Ive just got to get sharp on the greens.